Secondary packaging protects your products for shipment. While primary packaging is in direct contact with your product, secondary packaging bundles multiple product units into a secure, transportable load. From wraparound case packers to automatic palletizers, secondary packaging equipment takes your products through the end of the packaging line. This process ensures that they’re ready to move safely and securely through the rest of the supply chain.
The right equipment makes your secondary packaging line fast, consistent, and reliable. A high-quality secondary packaging process ensures your products arrive at their destination with minimal damage. There are five main types of secondary packaging equipment. Read on to learn more about these different types of secondary packaging machines and how they can enhance your facility.
The Benefits of Automatic Over Manual Packaging
Secondary packaging machines go above and beyond what human employees are capable of. Manual packing, stacking, and wrapping is a tedious process that leaves plenty of room for human error. Facilities that use manual secondary packaging processes see slower product packaging, less accuracy, and less consistency than those using secondary packaging machines. Secondary packaging equipment also offers better cost-efficiency over time by running longer without breaks, optimizing material usage, and freeing up manual labor for more specialized tasks.
In addition to better efficiency and cost-effectiveness, automatic and semi-automatic secondary packaging equipment creates a safer and healthier facility for your workforce. Manual packaging processes require a lot of physical labor and repetitive motion. Bending, lifting, twisting, and other movements create muscle strain and can lead to injuries over time. Packaging equipment takes much of the burden of physical labor away from employees so that they can perform other tasks with fewer accidents or injuries.
Stretch Wrappers
Stretch wrappers use machine stretch film to wrap and secure a product load. There are several different types of stretch wrappers to suit the unique needs of different product types, sizes, and loads. You can choose between horizontal or vertical configurations, turntable stretch wrappers, portable robot stretch wrappers, and more. Because of the versatile range of designs, automatic and semi-automatic stretch wrappers deliver superior performance that suits your specific business needs. Whether you need portability, high-throughput capacity, or a space-saving footprint, your stretch wrap machine will provide the results necessary to optimize your packaging line.
Automatic and semi-automatic stretch wrappers can pre-stretch film further than any human employee could. This ability allows you to save money on stretch film costs and make the most of your packaging materials. Stretch wrapper machines are also more consistent than manual wrapping processes.
Furthermore, Robopac USA’s stretch wrappers come with our CUBE™ Technology, which delivers programmable, multi-variable pre-stretch and containment force. CUBE™ Technology creates greater accuracy, consistency, and flexibility so that you can create the most secure wrap possible for each product load.
Semi-Automatic vs. Automatic Stretch Wrappers
Stretch wrapper machines come in both semi-automatic and automatic options. Semi-automatic stretch wrap machines require some human intervention to attach the film to the load, press a start button, cut the film at the end of the wrapping process, or perform other minor tasks. As such, semi-automatic wrappers require more employee supervision than automatic wrappers. These solutions are ideal for facilities wrapping less than 30 loads per hour.
Automatic stretch wrappers, on the other hand, are ideal for higher volume facilities that require high throughput solutions. Automatic stretch wrap machines operate at higher speeds and move products through with little to no employee intervention. Fully automatic stretch wrappers operate independently to move loads through the entire wrapping process.
Case Packers
Case packer machines are a versatile and reliable way to create stable product units. Because products come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials, secondary packaging facilities need case packing solutions capable of handling a wide range of products. Robopac USA’s industrial case packers can package PET, HDPE, glass, aluminum, and other product materials in a variety of formats. Our case packers cover wraparound cases, trays, film only, and pad and film packages.
Moreover, we offer case packers with automatic format change for superior speed and ease of changeover. Simple, programmable format changes allow facilities to create more stable product units with less time and hassle than a manual process could achieve.
Palletizers
At the end of the packaging lines, facilities must stack and secure products to a pallet. Stable pallet loads are the key to transporting goods throughout the rest of the supply chain. Secure, well-made pallets stay in one piece and protect products even as they travel on forklifts, trucks, and other forms of transportation to their end destination. On the other hand, a poorly made pallet might break, tip over, or otherwise result in damaged products and lost profits.
Palletizers optimize the end of your packaging line by quickly and consistently creating safe and stable product loads. Many of Robopac USA’s automatic palletizers use concurrent stretch wrapping to wrap and secure products as each layer of the pallet is being built in the palletizer. This action speeds up the palletizing process and creates fast and reliable wrapping processes.
Laser-Guided Vehicles (LGVs)
Laser-guided vehicle systems, or LGVs, reduce labor costs and provide flexibility throughout your entire secondary packaging facility. LGVs act as automatic forklifts and move throughout the facility with a laser guidance system, delivering superior precision and automation. LVGs transport materials and loads without employee supervision, increasing efficiency and freeing your workers to focus on other areas of your packaging line. LGV technology is easy to set up and change with our team of specialists, allowing you to optimize vehicle routes throughout your facility at your convenience.
Case Tapers
Case tapers handle the tedious and continuous task of sealing cases so that your employees can dedicate their efforts to more important tasks. A case taper machine is responsible for properly squaring up the case and sealing your cases in your packaging line. These machines are efficient and versatile. Robopac USA’s case tapers can handle most common case shapes and sizes, creating secure cases with less time and effort.
Choose a Secondary Packaging Manufacturer You Can Rely On
Facilities rely on the different types of secondary packaging machines to make their packaging lines faster, more reliable, and more productive. Minimal downtime, comprehensive maintenance routines, and dependable customer support are crucial to keeping effective secondary packaging equipment. Robopac USA delivers all that and more.
Contact us today to learn more about our industrial wrapping machines and other secondary packaging equipment. We’ll help you find the right solution to optimize your facility and workflow.
